AP World History Flashcards (Unit 0)

Chavin Foundations

(900 BCE - 200 BCE, Latin America)

• Peru

• Earliest pre-Incan culture

• Domesticated llamas

• Grew maize, potatoes, and quinoa

• Urban centers around a temple

• and significant for extensive trade networks.

• Characterized by extensive trade networks linking diverse cultures in the Andes, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas.

Cuneiform (Foundations)

(Around 3200 BCE, Middle East)

• An early system of writing developed by the Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia, using wedge-shaped marks made on clay tablets.

• It was one of the earliest forms of written communication and played a crucial role in the administration and culture of ancient civilizations.

• Enabled the recording of laws, trade transactions, and literature, thus contributing significantly to the development of complex societies.

Nile River Civilization (Foundations)

(3150 BCE - 417 CE, Egypt / Middle East)

• Unified by Menes

• Ruled by a pharaoh

• Mummification, building of tombs & pyramids

• Hieroglyphics, paper making, 365 calendar, architecture

• Women had more rights than other societies, with roles in property ownership and inheritance.

Mandate of Heaven (Foundations)

(1046 - 256 BCE, East Asia)

• Claim by Chinese kinds of the Zhou dynasty that they had direct authority from heaven to rule and keep order in the universe.

• If a ruler failed to fulfill their duties, it was believed that the mandate would be withdrawn, justifying their overthrow.

Mauryan Dynasty (Foundations)

(322 - 185 BCE, HEIGHT in 320 BCE, India / South Asia)

• Classical Indian dynasty under Ashoka, conquered the kingdom uniting the entire subcontinent.

• Promoted Buddhism

• Built irrigation systems, roads, and encouraged religious tolerance.

Jainism (Foundations)

(7th century BCE - c. 5th century CE, South Asia)

• Indian belief system that practiced non-violence to living things or their souls

• Rejected caste hierarchy

• Emphasized asceticism (practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, particularly from sensual pleasures, to achieve personal growth, spiritual enlightenment, or redemption).

Shang Dynasty (Foundations)

(c. 1600 - 1046 BCE, East Asia)

• Earliest ruling dynasty of China to be established in recorded history

• Oracle bones (ox bones and tortoise shells inscribed with early Chinese writing)

• Bronze weapons

• Horse-drawn chariots

• Compound bows

• Centralized government

Bantu Migrations (Foundations)

(2000 BCE - 1500 CE., Africa)

• Migrated to the eastern coast of Africa

• Spread farming, iron tools, and languages across Africa

• Established trade networks.

Legalism (Foundations)

(475 - 221 BCE, East Asia)

• Strict laws and punishments to strengthen the state

• Government strength lies in its agriculture and military

• Believed that a strong, authoritarian government could maintain order and stability.

Gupta Dynasty (Foundations)

(4th - late 6th century CE, South Asia)

• Indian empire known for a golden age of Hindu culture

• Advances in math (zero, decimals), science, art, and literature.

• Power was decentralized

• Trade across the Indian Ocean and Silk Roads (facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures, most notably luxury items)

Mayan Civilization (Foundations)

( 300 - 900 CE, Latin America)

• City states

• Developed writing and advanced mathematics, including the concept of zero. Known for impressive architecture, including pyramids and temples, as well as a complex calendar system.

• Terrace farming and trade networks across Mesoamerica.

Plato (Foundations)

(c. 428 - c. 348 BCE, Ancient Greece)

• Believed that everything was based on ideal forms or ideas

• Founded the Academy in Athens and wrote dialogues exploring ethics, politics, and knowledge.

• Student of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle.

Aristotle (Foundations)

(384 - 322 BCE, Ancient Greece)

• Disciple of Plato

• Believed people could obtain knowledge through observation and experience.

• Made significant contributions across various fields including philosophy, science, and politics, founding the Lyceum.

Laws of the Twelve Tables (Foundations)

(c. 450 BCE, Ancient Rome)

• Rome’s first written laws, applied to all citizens

• Made all laws public and consistent, preventing patricians (elites) from changing the rules at will

• Inscribed on twelve bronze tablets

Pax Romana (Foundations)

( 27 BCE - 180 CE, Ancient Rome)

• A 200-year-long period of peace in the Roman Empire

• Rome reaches its greatest territorial extent and population

• This era saw advancements in art, architecture, and culture, while also promoting trade and infrastructure development across the empire.

Socrates (Foundations)

(c. 470 - 399 BCE, Ancient Greece)

• Greek philosopher that used questioning to explore ethics

• Known for the Socratic method, which encourages critical thinking through dialogue. (SOCRATIC DISCUSSION!!!! WOW)

Julius Caesar (Foundations)

(100 - 44 BCE, Ancient Rome)

• Roman dictator

• Extended Roman citizenship to Gaul and consolidated (made stronger) government.

• Assassinated by governors and senators on the Ides of March, 44 BCE, due to fears of his power and ambitions.

Han Empire (Foundations)

(202 BCE - 220 CE, East Asia)

• After the collapse of the Qin Empire

• Founded by Gaozu

• Adopted Confucianism; merit system for government exams

• Introduced Buddhism

• Expanded the Silk Road trade networks, facilitating cultural exchange.

Constantine (Foundations)

(c. 272 - 337 CE, Roman Empire)

• Roman emperor

• Issued the Edict of Milan which outlawed the persecution of Christians

• Founded Constantinople

• Played a crucial role in the establishment of Christianity as the dominant religion in the Roman Empire.

Warring States (Foundations)

(403 - 221 BCE, East Asia)

• Period of Civil War in China

• Led to rise of Confucianism, Legalism, & Daoism

• Led to eventual unification under the Qin Dynasty.

Zoroastrianism (Foundations)

(6th century BCE, Middle East)

• One of the world's oldest monotheistic religions

• Founded by the prophet Zoroaster

• Emphasizes a focus of good vs. evil

• Belief in Ahura Mazda as the supreme god and the concepts of free will and judgment.

• It influenced other religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Emperor Wudi (Foundations)

(156 - 87 BCE, East Asia)

• Emperor of the Han Dynasty

• Stronger central government by taking land from lords and raising taxes

• Confucianism became China’s government philosophy

• Expanded Silk Road trade

• Established the civil service system. (shifting from aristocratic patronage to selecting officials based on their knowledge of Confucian classics through exams)

Alexander the Great (Foundations)

(356 - 323 BCE, Macedonia)

• King of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in history

• Known for his military conquests, including the Persian Empire

• Spread Greek culture and influence throughout his empire

• Established cities, most notably Alexandria in Egypt.

• He was tutored by Aristotle and united the Greek city-states before embarking on his campaigns.

Persian Empire (Foundations)

(c. 550 - 330 BCE, Middle East and South Asia)

• Founded by Cyrus the Great

• Expanded by Darius the Great

• Empire spread from India to the borders of Egypt

• Darius created a centralized government with a bureaucracy capital, Persepolis.

• Known for its infrastructure, including roads and canals, and cultural tolerance (Gate of Xerxes), fostering diverse local customs.

Qin Dynasty (Foundations)

(221 - 206 BCE, East Asia)

• First Chinese empire under Shi Huangdi

• Founder of the Qin Dynasty

• First centralized dynasty of China that used Legalism

• Achievements: Standardized weights, script writing, and measures; built the Great Wall of China; extensive road systems; initiated the Terracotta Army.

Civil Service (Foundations)

(650 CE and 1905, East Asia)

• System of testing designed to select the most studious and learned candidates for appointments in the Chinese government

• Based on Confucian philosophy

Polis (Foundations)

(Started around 8th c. BCE, Greece)

• Name of Greek city states

• Political and military unit

• Each polis operated independently, with its own government and laws.

Hammurabi’s Code (Foundations)

(1755-1750 BCE, Middle East)

• Babylon

• Set of 282 laws that governed daily life; earliest collection of written laws in history, emphasizing justice and retribution.

Olmecs (Foundations)

(1200 - 400 BCE, Latin America)

• First Mesoamerican civilization

• Authoritarian rule (favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom.)

• Known for pyramids and stone heads,the Olmecs were influential in architectural and artistic development in early Mesoamerica.

Yellow River Civilization (Foundations)

(9500 BCE - 1500 BCE, East Asia)

• First civilization established in Ancient China

• Founder: Yu

• Extensive irrigation and water control systems

• Significant agricultural developments, leading to urbanization and advanced societal structures.

Mesopotamia (Foundations)

(8000 BCE - 2000 BCE, Middle East)

• Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers

• World’s first cities: Babylon and Ur

• Polytheistic, known for ziggurats

• City states and canals

• Birthplace of writing; developed cuneiform, a system of writing on clay tablets. Mesopotamia significantly influenced law, politics, and culture in the ancient world.

Paleolithic Age (Foundations)

(2.6 million years ago - 10,000 BCE, global)

• Predates agricultural societies

• Clans formed tribes with chiefs (chiefdoms)

• Hunter-gatherers

• Stone tools

• Ability to control fire to cook food, for warmth, smoke bees, and to see in dark.

• Early religion

• Expressions of art, including cave paintings

Neolitic Revolution (Foundations)

(c. 10,000 BCE, Middle East)

• Called New Stone Age

• Domestication of animals and cultivation of crops

• Permanent villages

• Pottery

• Textiles

• Fundamental transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming communities, leading to increased population growth and the development of complex societies.

Zhou Dynasty

(1050 BCE - 400 BCE, East Asia)

• Longest dynasty in Chinese history

• Feudal rule (where a king granted land (a fief) to nobles (his vassals) in exchange for loyalty and military service)

• Emperor was the first to claim to be a link between heaven and Earth (Mandate of Heaven)

• Iron tools

Indus River Civilizations (Foundations)

(3300 BCE - 1300 BCE, South Asia)

• Two main cities: Harappa and Mohenjo Daro

• Grid cities

• Used standardized weights and measures

• Unknown cause of decline

• Sophisticated drainage and sewage systems

• Trade with neighboring regions

• Script still undeciphered

Ziggurat (Foundations)

(2200 - 500 BCE, Middle East)

• Sumerian tiered temples for religious ceremonies

• Served as the center of city life, typically built in the center of a city-state, showcasing the power of the ruling class and the importance of religion.